BJP virtually kick starts Delhi poll campaign

New Delhi: Hoping to return to power in Delhi after 15 years, BJP on Sunday virtually kick started its election campaign with a major offensive against Sheila Dikshit government on a range of issues including electricity tariff hikes in the last two years.

It unveiled a "formula" to cut the power rates by 30 per cent if the party wins the polls. The party held rally at Ramlila Ground which was attended by BJP president Rajnath Singh, Delhi election in-charge Nitin Gadkari and senior leaders of the party's Delhi Unit.

Addressing the rally, Singh gave a call to throw out the "corrupt" Congress government in the city while promising to ensure welfare of all sections of the society if BJP comes to power in the polls slated for November.

"This huge, very huge rally at Ramlila Maidan has sent a strong message that now no power in the world can stop the current government in Delhi from losing the election," Singh said.

Speaking on the occasion, Goel alleged a "massive scam" in the power sector in Delhi and claimed that consumers are being "fleeced" by the private power distribution companies in cooperation with the Delhi Government. He unveiled a 10-point formula to bring down the electricity rates by 30 percent.

"To pay electricity bills, you will soon have to take loans from banks. It's not a BJP rally, it is an 'aakrosh rally'. It is a movement against the exploitation. If voted to power, we will reduce the tariff by 30 per cent. If my formula is followed, the Chief Minister can cut tariff from tomorrow onwards," he said.

Goel is a long-standing aspirant for the chief minister's job but he is confronted by growing dissidence from within, with party stalwarts like VK Malhotra, Vijender Gupta and Aarti Mehra being totally opposed to him.

Explaining his formula, Goel compared the power sector with telecom sector and wondered why the electricity tariff cannot be brought down if competition is encouraged among various discoms.

"In 1996, mobile rate for incoming and outgoing was Rs 16 and now it is 30 paisa. Because of competition, the rates came down. The day we come to power, we will make the discoms compete with each other. We will cut tariff by 30 percent if we come to power," Goel said.